King Frederik X of Denmark

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

 

King Frederik X of Denmark was born on May 26, 1968, at the Rigshospitalet (Copenhagen University Hospital) in Copenhagen, Denmark. He is the elder son of the two sons of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and Count Henri de Laborde de Monpezat. At the time of his birth, his mother was heiress-presumptive to her father King Frederik IX.

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Frederik was christened with the names Frederik André Henrik Christian on June 24, 1968, at Holmens Kirke in Copenhagen, Denmark. He was named after:

  • Frederik: his maternal grandfather King Frederick IX
  • André: his paternal grandfather André de Laborde de Monpezat
  • Henrik: his father Prince Henrik
  • Christian: his maternal great-grandfather King Christian X

Frederik’s godparents were:

Frederik has one younger brother:

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In January 1972, his grandfather passed away and his mother became Queen. The young Frederik, not yet four years old, became the youngest Crown Prince in Europe. Crown Prince Frederik began his education privately at Amalienborg Palace before attending the Krebs School in Copenhagen. He spent a year at L’École des Roches, a boarding school in Normandy, France before completing his secondary education at the Øregård Gymnasium, in Hellerup, just north of Copenhagen.

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Frederik then began his military training, serving as a recruit in the Queen’s Life Guard Regiment of the Danish Army. After being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, he became a Platoon Commander in the Royal Danish Hussar Regiment. The following year, in 1989, he was promoted to First Lieutenant.

Also in 1989, he began his studies in Political Science at the University of Aarhus. During this time, he spent a year at Harvard University in the United States, enrolled under the name Frederik Henriksen, and took a three-month position with the Danish United Nations mission in New York City. In 1995, he received his Master’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Aarhus.

Frederik returned to military service, training with the Royal Danish Navy Frogman Corps in 1995. He continues to be involved with all branches of the Danish forces, holding the ranks of Colonel in the Danish Army and Air Force, and Commander in the Danish Navy. The Crown Prince also served for a year as First Secretary to the Danish Embassy in Paris, and after further training at the Royal Danish Defence College, served as a Staff Officer at Defence Command. Since 2003, he has also been a lecturer at the Defence College’s Institute of Strategy.

Upon his accession to the throne on January 14, 2024, King Frederik was appointed to the highest military rank in the Army, the Navy and the Air Force respectively. As admiral and general, he is now of the same rank as the Chief of Defence.

 

In September 2000, during the Olympic Games in Sydney, Frederik met Mary Donaldson on an evening out with some mutual friends. The two quickly began a relationship, with Frederik making several private trips to Australia before Mary eventually relocated to Denmark. Their engagement was announced in October 2003, after Queen Margrethe had given her formal consent to the marriage. Frederik and Mary married on May 14, 2004, at the Church of Our Lady in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Frederik and Mary reside at Amalienborg (Frederik VIII’s Palace) and the Chancellery House at Fredensborg Palace with their four children:

As Crown Prince, along with his military activities, Frederik undertook many official duties on behalf of his mother, both in Denmark and around the world. He is the patron of numerous organizations and charities, with many focusing on sports and health, as well as scientific research. An outspoken advocate for energy sustainability, Frederik has taken part in many international events to bring attention to the challenges of climate change, including participating in several expeditions with his fellow Scandinavian heirs Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden.

A very avid sportsman, Frederik has participated in several international sailing competitions, and run marathons in Denmark, France, and the United States. In 2013, he was the first royal to compete in an Ironman competition. In 2009, Frederik became a member of the International Olympic Committee. Upon completion of his term in 2021, Frederik became an honorary member of the International Olympic Committee.

 In her New Year’s Speech on December 31, 2023, Frederik’s mother Queen Margrethe II announced that she will step down as Queen of Denmark on January 14, 2024 – the 52nd anniversary of her accession.

On January 14, 2024, the day of the abdication of his mother Queen Margrethe II and his accession to the Danish throne, Queen Margrethe II, Crown Prince Frederik, and Frederik’s elder son Prince Christian met with the Council of State in the State Council Hall at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen. The succession of the Danish throne took place during the Council of State meeting at the moment when Queen Margrethe II signed a declaration of her abdication. Queen Margrethe then gave up her seat and offered her it to the new King. At the same time, the new heir to the throne, Crown Prince Christian, took the seat to the right of the King. After this, the visibly-moved Queen Margrethe said “Gud bevare kongen” (God save the king) and left the State Council Hall.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen proclaimed King Frederik X’s accession to the throne

Shortly after, King Frederik X stepped out on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace and Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen proclaimed his accession to the throne. According to Danish state custom, the Prime Minister proclaimed three times: “Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II has abdicated. Long live His Majesty King Frederik X!” This was followed by the traditional ninefold cheer from the crowd of tens of thousands who turned out to witness the proclamation.

King Frederik X spoke after his proclamation as Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stood next to him

King Frederik X gave a short speech and announced his motto, “Bound, committed, for the Kingdom of Denmark.” King Frederik X said,”My mother, Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II, has ruled Denmark for 52 years. For half a century, she has followed the times with our common heritage as a starting point. She will always be remembered as a Monarch beyond the ordinary. Like few, my mother has managed to be at one with her kingdom. Today, the throne passes on. My hope is to become an unifying king of tomorrow. It’s a task I’ve been waiting for all my life. It is a responsibility I take on with respect, pride and great joy. It is a deed I will take pains to carry out and carry through the position I have been entrusted with. I need all the support I can get. From my beloved wife, from my family, from you and from that which is greater than us. I face the future knowing that I am not alone.”

Left to right: Princess Isabella, Crown Prince Christian, King Frederik X, Queen Mary, Princess Josephine, and Prince Vincent on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace after the proclamation of King Frederik X as King of Denmark.

After his speech, King Frederik X was joined on the balcony by his family: Queen Mary, Crown Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine.

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